Roberta Flack’s Timeless Touch: How She Transformed ‘Killing Me Softly’ and Changed Lori Lieberman’s Life

Image via s_bukley / Shutterstock

Roberta Flack’s voice had a way of making songs feel deeply personal, as if she was singing directly to your soul. Her 1973 recording of Killing Me Softly with His Song became one of the most beloved records of all time, earning her a Grammy and leaving a lasting mark on music history. But the song’s journey began a year earlier, with folk singer Lori Lieberman.

Lieberman, now 73, was inspired to write the lyrics as a poem after seeing Don McLean perform Empty Chairs at a small club in Los Angeles. Songwriters Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox then shaped her words into a song, which she recorded for her 1972 debut album. But it was Flack—who passed away this week at 88—who saw something even greater in the track.

She first heard Killing Me Softly by chance on an American Airlines in-flight music system. Moved by its emotional depth, she played it on repeat, taking notes on how she could reimagine it. When she performed her version live at LA’s Greek Theatre in 1972, the reaction was so powerful that Quincy Jones urged her to record it immediately.

Flack’s rendition transformed the song—beginning with the chorus instead of the verse, adding the now-iconic “La, la, la” refrain, and incorporating a richer, soulful arrangement. What was once a quiet folk ballad became a sweeping, emotionally charged masterpiece that resonated with millions.

For Lieberman, hearing her song brought to life in such a profound way was deeply moving. “What she gave to that song was priceless,” she reflected. “I have endless gratitude to Roberta Flack for hearing something within that song and bringing it to the world.”

Though the two artists were forever connected by Killing Me Softly, they didn’t meet in person until 2019. By then, Flack’s health had declined following a stroke, but their meeting was a moment of mutual appreciation and respect.

Roberta Flack’s gift was in her ability to interpret music in a way that made it feel eternal. Her influence stretched across decades, inspiring not just listeners but artists like the Fugees, who brought Killing Me Softly to a new generation in 1996. Her artistry, depth, and soul will continue to live on through the music she left behind.